Archive : March2011

I’ve seen the clichéd long chains with the dangling peace symbols and I’ve see the chunky shiny jewelry but celebrities seem to have their own take on how to combine their leather outfits with the funkiest, wackiest and yet fantastic accessories. Here are a few celebs who have successfully managed to grab the attention of the viewer not just with their superb outfits but also with their funky combinations!

Katerina Graham

Check out those whacked out purple shoes! Leather is sexy; those purple booties are unusual and the whole combination is totally mind blowing. Katerina is looking so cute – almost pixie like and boy is she carrying it off like a perfect angel!

Zoe Saldana

Just her beige leather dress is wondrous in itself but pairing it with these ultra cute two-tone brown and burgundy shoes is like the cherry on the cake. Not even close to an obvious choice, it stands out and yet put all together it looks simply superb!

Nicole Scherzinger

Leather is more often than not combined with simple black slip-ons or open toed shoes. I like that Nicole has combined her shiny leather pants and jacket with this almost sandal like pair of shoes! It somehow cuts off the sharpness of the leather overdose.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton chose to combine her bright red leather dress with the most awesome silver shoes. The whole combination looked a bit off and yet it seemed to work perfectly well together! You have got to hand it out to her – the woman never fails to surprise!

Nicole Richie

It would be totally unfair to exclude Richie. She may not be making it to the news anymore but you cannot deny sexy shoes their due footage (pun intended) especially when combined with a super sexy leather dress. The whole black and white combination looks rather charming. A definite like!

John Legend

Instead of the usual bling that is almost always added to hip hop stars wearing leather jackets, John Legend instead chose to accessorize his gunmetal colored leather jacket with a deep grey shawl and a pair of brown and beige converse shoes! Well done Mr. Legend! You are definitely living up to your name!

No one can deny the joys of spring and almost everyone will welcome the chance to finally get out of layers of snow and bundled up clothing. It is a little strange to be suggesting leather jackets for the season of spring – especially when you’ve just finally extracted yourself from warm clothing. While leather has its positive practical points like wrapping you with warmth – it also is one of the toppers on the trendy chart. The magic is how to radiate style without getting uncomfortable.

Contrary to what most people say, a leather jacket is quite a whopper in your spring wardrobe. All you need to do is re align your thoughts to what kind of jacket to choose. Stay away from bulky bombers or high necked jackets. Instead opt for the following choices:

Men:Sleeveless Leather Cowboy Jacket:

This jacket is an absolute delight. They are sleeveless and usually come with only open flaps devoid of buttons. Sometimes a set of strings on either flap add that perfect cowboy look. Combine it with a simple checked formal shirt if you want to go all the way with the cozy cow boy look or else just add a plain white tee tucked into denims.

Sleeveless leather Vest Coat:

Another great option! The hemline of the leather coat hangs below the derriere and creates a look of chic style combined with a tinge of practicality.

Women:
As usual, the choices for women always exceed those of men. A favorite has to be those short cropped leather jackets that can be worn as tops or combined with a casual tee. Another great option is to opt for those short cropped jackets with full sleeves. The lower hemline ends just below the chest or even higher. They look absolutely dazzling especially if you want to showcase a long waist line.

Suede leather is probably the most spring like material amongst all of the leather offerings. There are a whole variety suede leather jackets available and they have a raw sexy feel to it! Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colors like blues and pinks. Of course nothing can take away from the raw sensuality of black.

Sometimes, yes I have to admit it, even leather can’t save an outfit. No matter how glorious leather is as a fabric – the worn combinations can simply send you from stardom to dumb-dumb. Here are a few celebs that have gone out of their way to prove that if leather is combined wrong – it can lead to some disastrous effects!

1. Christina Aguilera

Sigh! Christina no! Not even that awesome leather jacket you’re wearing take away from the fact that you have combined it with transparent stockings. True! We did say a little glitter always makes for a great public appearance but we did mean it on a more productive piece of clothing – preferably something that is worn over your stockings!

2. Nicki Minaj

I feel it in my heart that I should forgive her or at least give her the benefit of doubt. Maybe she really didn’t have the time to change out of her dominatrix costume and so she hastily wrapped around some tulle to confuse everyone! Or maybe not! A leather combination dress can be done so beautifully – alas!

3. Lady Gaga

So this is what Lady Gaga wears to the airports. It serves a dual purpose you know. Just in case, the radio tower stops working or the signals are off balance, all we have to do is take Lady Gaga and get her to stand along the runaway along with her thirteen inch heels. What with her black and yellow shiny leather combination along with the weird cat suit sleeves, you never know, the planes will land perfectly! She really is a super hero people!

4. Taylor Momsen

Once again a spectacular leather jacket wasted! Dear Taylor, not even that great jacket you have on can save you from the fact that what you are wearing is essentially a petticoat with rather high panty-hoes that seems to have torn, caught a run and belonged to 5 years back But I do commend you for the effort you started putting at the top if your dress.

5. Jada Pinkett Smith

Such a pretty lady with an awesome pair of leather shorts. That’s what I thought! But I did scroll through the picture from toes up and the up saddened me deeply. What could have essentially been an awesome combination to go with the awesome pair of leather shorts instead ended up terribly muddled!

Shopping! I do a mental whoop every time I even think the word! Take it from a determined shopaholic and a leatheroholic (I just made that word up), to control your shopping spree is so not easy. It’s safe to say that I have put in years of practice and finally learned to control my shopping urges. Here are a few tips to help you purchase the perfect leather garments without going overboard:

1. Budget yourself:

This, I learned, is the simplest and easiest way to control a crazy shopping spree. I sit down and budget how much I need to spend. I then withdraw that amount and head out to shop with exactly that amount! Leave all my credit and debit cards safely locked up at home! This ensures that I don’t go overboard even if I wish to.

2. Plan your shopping:

Decide what you need to purchase. Sit yourself down and make a list. If you need a new leather blazer, consider how urgent your requirement is – if you need something else more! Once you have made up your mind, write down in a list all the things you need to buy and set an approximate price range for each of them.

It is okay to splurge once in a way, just as a feel good factor. When you do it once in a way you do not get racked with guilt later on!

3. Shop online:

I have realized that this is another hassle free and great way to shop for leather clothes – all from the comfort of your home. The rates are usually more reasonable, there are no annoying sales people constantly peeking over your shoulder and the clothes are always created according to your exact measurements, making them wonderful to wear.

You must beware though that you are purchasing your clothes from a trustworthy site. You will not only be giving the site your card details but also your address! Also, check for the credibility to ensure that you are receiving good quality leather clothes and not a cheap imitation.

Jumpsuits are not meant for everyone. It takes great style, confidence and assertiveness to carry it off. Add to the fact that you are interested in a jumpsuit in leather and you have got yourself a fashion disaster waiting to happen. Don’t take me wrong! Leather jumpsuits are absolutely exquisite. They are remarkably chic, stylish and look gorgeous! The problem lies in carrying them off. A leather jumpsuit is like a double edged suit. One wrong move – in this case it could be your confidence, accessories or your attitude, and you could be walking along the path of fashion blunder.

Let us start from the basics. We have already established that a leather jumpsuit looks great. Now comes the next big question – where can you wear them? Jumpsuits in general can be categorized under the casual section. Leather jumpsuits are not much of an exception. They can fall anywhere from the sensual division to the party section to the casual evening out section – all depending on the styling, cut and length of the jumpsuit. The one section that always remains a constant, of course, is the trendy section. You can be rest assured that you are going to look great!

The reason I so strongly insist that a jumpsuit, more so a leather jumpsuit, is not meant for everyone is because you are going to turn a lot of heads in your direction and get plenty of attention. Jumpsuits are not so common and you wouldn’t really see them all the time around you. Even rarer are leather jumpsuits. So in other words, when you do wear it you really are going to have to carry it off.

There are a range of styles available in leather jumpsuits both for men and women. Leather jumpsuits, are of course, more preferred by the fairer sex. You can choose from a plethora of options.

• The formal variety usually lets you combine your leather jumpsuit with a full sleeved formal shirt. They can be worn to a professional organization on a casual working day.
• If you are interested in a jumpsuit for a wild night around town, I suggest you pick out one with short attached with a belt cinching around the waist. Alternatively, you can also pick out a skinny jumpsuit which will emphasize your silhouette.
• The sensual variety usually includes jumpsuits that closely resemble a one piece swim suit.
• If you are looking for just a casual evening out with friends, select a loose 3/4th pant leather jumpsuit. It looks elegant and trendy while at the same time a perfect choice for a casual evening out.

It is very important that you accessorize right when it comes to jumpsuits. Even the best leather jumpsuit will not be able to redeem you from a fashion faux pas if you go wrong with the accessories. Your best option is to go minimal. Short, fitting jumpsuits can be combined with long chains. Preferably avoid them if you are planning to go long. Simple pumps or peek a boo shoes match jumpsuits perfectly!
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Another set of awards! More Oscars handed out! More talk and gossip about who wore what, why they wore what and when they wore what? Amid all the hoopla I did a poll to find out exactly how popular leather is at the Oscars.

Well other than accessories, leather apparel scored surprisingly low on the wearer scale (Jude Law landing from his jet for the Oscars not withstanding). I tried to pull up all the times when leather has been worn to the Oscars and once again came up with a surprisingly low number. While celebs love wearing leather to a whole range of functions from the Golden Globes to the SAGS as well as launches, they seem to shy away from wearing leather to the Oscars.

A host of celebs have chosen to wear leather at various occasions like Sandra Bullock in a skintight black leather dress at Spike TV’s Guys Choice Awards or the recent spotting of Alicia Keys, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez in their own varied version of the LBD – the leather black dress! This trio of beauties added plenty of oomph and class to their leather choices then again talking of class nothing can come even remotely close to the beauty of Zoe Saldana in leather!

So clearly leather is a loved choice among celebrities; so what makes it such a risk to wear at the Oscars – the mother of all event functions! From Katerina Graham to Jennifer Lopez, almost every celeb has sported leather in a rather enticing manner yet they stop short at the Oscars choosing to favor chiffon and the other traditional favorites instead.

Could it be that leather is too powerful for the Oscars? Do the celebs think that walking into unknown territory is a risk? Do you think the celebs are too afraid to break the ice or could it just be something entirely different?

The questions are endless. We know from past experiences that leather has a distinct personality and works wonderfully well at conveying emotions like assertiveness and confidence! So what could be holding back the leading men and ladies from selecting leather?

Your leather apparel does not come cheap. I won’t go all the way out and say that it costs an arm and a leg but your pockets would most definitely be just a tiny bit lighter. So it goes without saying that you would like your leather jacket to last a while! Here are some simple pointers to ensure that your jacket has a longer life span:

• Brush down your jacket with a damp cloth everyday to get rid of all the dust and grime. Dust settling, over a period of time, can make your jacket stiff which will eventually cause it to crack.

• Store it in a dry place devoid of any moisture. Never keep naphthalene balls next to your leather jacket.
• Never bundle up your leather jacket while storing it. Make sure you keep it on a wooden hanger.
• Leather is basically skin and skin needs to breathe. In other words, avoid packing leather up in plastic bags.

If you do get a stain on your leather jacket just follow the following rules:

1. My first suggestion to everyone is to take it to the dry cleaners once a month or at least once a fortnight. They are professionals and you can be rest assured that your leather jacket is in safe hands.
2. If you are confident about yourself, then you can also try out these home remedies:

• For blood stains, take some mild conditioner in your hand, lather it up with warm water and rub it on the spot. Always ensure that the shampoo or soap you use is mild. Never use shampoo or soap directly on the leather jacket. Once, you are done lathering, just rinse the spot with warm water and leave it to dry. Pick a drop spot, away from direct heat.
• Please note that if the blood stain has dried or set in, you may not be able to get rid of it so easily.

• Sweat stains can be taken care of with baby shampoo or fabric softener. Treat it the same way you would blood stains.

• If wax has seeped into your leather jacket, then you need to place brown paper or blotting paper on the leather; set the iron on cool and gently iron till the wax seeps into the blotting paper.

• Oil is probably leather’s worst enemy. Leather soaks in oil immediately and getting rid of the stains are almost impossible. At best, you can use some mild conditioner to even out the color of the stain. If the oil stain is fresh, immediately mix soap flakes with a few tablespoons of warm water and rub it onto the spot. Rinse thoroughly.

I, for one, have always associated the term ‘vest’ with leather. It took me a few years of growing up to realize otherwise. You see, my mom had this fabulous brown colored leather vest that she absolutely loved wearing and I loved seeing her in. It was only later that I realized that you do get vests in other fabrics as well and that’s when I also realized how pointless that was. I mean, nothing could look as gorgeous as a leather vest.

So if you are out there looking to add the right piece of trendy clothing to your wardrobe, up your oomph factor or simply want to look nice – then what you are looking for is a fabulous leather vest. I know what you are thinking now – spend all that money for a leather vest that I can’t wear often without the risk of looking like I have no clothes. Chill out! The leather vest is amazingly versatile. It can be combined with everything from skirts to shorts to trousers to denims!

In all honesty, practicality wise the leather vest is not very sensible. It does not really protect you from the cold or the wind or anything fancy. A leather vest is purely for style. Durability is another huge plus point when it comes to the leather vest. Of course that has more to do with the fact that the vest is leather. Another good thing about leather vests are that they never ever run out of style. You just do not have to worry that what you are wearing is going to be outdated soon. Simple example, that leather vest that my mother always wore now sits proudly in my closet.

There are an ample number of combination to which you can add a leather vest!

Casual look:
If you are attempting the casual look team up a three tiered, short, ruffled, chiffon skirt with a simple cotton top tucked in. add a matching leather vest and you have yourself an absolute head turner!

Another option is to wear your skinny jeans. Combine this with a loose top, preferable sleeveless with a U neck. Once again, the simple addition of the leather vest t this combination changes it from being an ordinary everyday outfit to an ultra chic creation.

Professional look:
What you want to do here is pick out a short straight cut formal skirt – by short I mean a little above the knees or knee length. Add to it a ruffled, full sleeved lace top and finish of the look with a leather vest. Needless to say, you will just have taken professional dressing in your office to a whole new level.

Formal party look:
Scan your wardrobe for that floor kissing pencil skirt with the high slit. Add to it a simple top and an oh so sexy leather vest. Now prepare yourself for plenty of attention and a host of envious glances!

The key to using a leather vest is to always combine it with a simple inner!

Leather has a certain appeal to it – a raw, unleashed sensuality that radiates from its very essence. It appeals to everyone from rugged motorcyclists to professional office goers to style conscious, chic celebrities. It’s rather easy to dress up in leather – you never seem to get it wrong. There is a leather dress out there for everyone and celebs are no exception. Since the beginning of 2011, there are over 15 sightings of leather sported celebs – all on the red carpet – looking daring, bold, sexy and oh so gorgeous!

Here are the celebs in some amazing leather dresses:

1. Maggie Q

Maggie Q is mad hot. There is absolutely no doubt about it. She looks sizzling in anything she wears and if there is anyone who can carry off a leather dress without the slightest bit of worry; it has to be Maggie Q. I love the shiny, one shouldered black studded dress she decided to sport at the People’s Choice Awards. The mid thigh hemline and the art-deco, hip ruffles together contributed to the most mind blowing blend of fabrics to create the most stunning view! Applause for Maggie Q.

2. Rosamund Pike

Sheer leather and cosmic sparkles – who would have thought of that? Apparently, Rosamund Pike’s designer did and I absolutely salute him. The leather bodice seems to dissolve into an abstract cosmic print which I absolutely adored! Add to it her combination of the chilled out tights and very cute shoes and you have yourself a winner! Fantastic choice and fantastic taste – that’s what I now think when I see Pike.3. Zoe Saldana

When Zoe Saldana chooses to wear leather, you know that a hundred boutiques are going to increase their collection of leather apparel. Saldana, other than being really gorgeous has an impeccable taste in clothing and a much envied style sense. Her choice clearly comes through in this awesome nude colored, strapless leather mini dress. She looks magnificent to say the least and her choice of accessories to match the dress is impressive. A fashion goddess is what she is – a fashion goddess clad in leather!

4. Carey Mulligan

If anyone can carry off the vintage look, it has to be Carey. Her choice of dress look like it’s been borrowed from the 70’s. What could have turned out to be an otherwise drab dress has instantly been saved by her choosing for the outfit to be in leather. The rich leather texturing throughout the outfit is crazy fabulous. The entire dress is renewed with life and the basic leather belt at the midriff was like icing on the cake. The retro-prim thing absolutely works for Carey. The purple metallic color of the dress makes me want to claw anyone in the way to get to it!

5. Katerina Graham

Just look at her. Need I say more? If this isn’t proof that leather is sexy then I can safely bet that Harry Potter has no fans.

Leather looks ravishing by itself. Be it a dress, jacket, shorts or a dress. There is no doubt there. You can’t have a ‘not gorgeous’ looking leather outfit. Leather is suave and sexy. It looks superb on women. Depending on the style and fashion you choose you give off a varied number of looks like beautiful to sensual to graceful to elegant and so on.

You must know how to choose your leather. Whichever leather apparel you pick – each one has a personality. Remember to choose one that suits and compliments yours. One that you are confident you can carry off. Another common problem faced by many women is how to accessorize their leather apparel.

Here are a few tips to accessorize your leather:

Warning: Never combine leather with leather. It makes for disastrous results. A leather top with leather pants and leather shoes is to die for – literally! Each of these items looks good – just not together. Leather together is a fashion faux pas!

1. Leather Bomber Jacket:

Combine your leather bomber jacket with skinny denims. Its great to zip up your leather bomber but don’t forget to wear something inside. Wear something sleeveless and long; something that falls to the hips or just about touching your derriere. Accessorize your outfit with a long chain that ends at your mid riff. Big pendants look fantastic! Add to it a pair of pumps or strappy sandals!

2. Leather Dress:

This of course can vary in lengths! For an extremely short leather dress, add a pair of snazzy, eye catching, high heeled sandals! Roman tie up sandals also look rather charming. Accessorize your dress with a clutch. Bulky bags never look good with petite dresses. Make sure your clutch, shoes and other accessories match or are at least in tandem with each other!

For a professional look, pick out a knee length, leather dress and add to it a pair of no nonsense pumps. Avoid glitter in the office. For an assertive appearance, carry a simple purse and accessorize with stud earrings and a delicate chain with a pretty pendant.

3. Leather Pants:

This is a tricky one! You could easily go wrong with accessorizing here – especially with your shoes. Your shoes should depend on the style of the leg cuff. If it is a narrow fit then pick out suede boots; for a more flared pant style combine it with slip on shoes. Remember, the choice of the top is also very important.

4. Leather Skirt:

Once again the length matters but this time add to it the styling and cut! Strappy sandals compliment a long skirt with a slit so also a mermaid style dress. Sandals always look fantastic with skirts.

It’s quite simple to accessorize leather. All you have to do is pay attention to the little details. Contrasting accessories also look good. Remember, your dress is only 50% of your look. The way you carry it off makes all the difference!